Systems, methods and apparatus for receiving images of one or more checks

Abstract

Images of a plurality of checks to be presented for payment may be captured through the use of a check sleeve. The check sleeve includes check-holding mechanism to hold one or more checks in place in the sleeve, and contains various types of markings or other features that allow an image of the sleeve to be oriented, and to allow the portion of the image that represents a check to be distinguished from portions of the image that do not represent a check. One or more algorithms may be used to distinguish check from non-check portions of the image, and to orient the image. The check sleeves may have one or more barcodes imprinted thereon, which may encode various types of information.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for obtaining one or more images of a plurality of checks, the system comprising:
 a memory; 
 a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 receive an image of one side of a sleeve that comprises a plurality of spaces to hold a plurality of checks, wherein a plurality of barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks are printed on one side of said sleeve; 
 use the plurality of barcodes during at least one of processing said image, directing a deposit of the plurality of checks, or determining an orientation of said image; 
 and execute instructions to orient said first image based on positions or orientations of said plurality of barcodes. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further executes instructions to:
 determine locations of each of the plurality of checks based on positions of said first plurality of barcodes. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of barcodes encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein the processor further executes instructions to:
 use the account number from at least one of the plurality of barcodes to determine an account into which the plurality of checks are to be deposited. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of barcodes differ from each other, and wherein the processor further executes instructions to:
 use differences among said barcodes to distinguish said plurality of checks from each other. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further executes instructions to:
 receive a second image of a second side of said sleeve, there being a plurality of second barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks; and 
 use said plurality of second barcodes to distinguish said one side of said sleeve from said second side of said sleeve. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve has one or more lines printed thereon, and wherein the processor further executes instructions to:
 use said one or more lines to determine a position or orientation of at least one check from the plurality of checks. 
 
     
     
       7. A processor-implemented method of obtaining one or more images of a plurality of checks, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a processor, an image of one side of a sleeve that comprises a plurality of spaces to hold a plurality of checks, wherein a plurality of barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks are printed on one side of said sleeve; 
 using the plurality of barcodes during at least one of a process of processing said first image, directing a deposit of the plurality of checks, or determining an orientation of the image; 
 and orienting said first image based on positions or orientations of said plurality of barcodes. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein using the plurality of barcodes comprises:
 determining locations of each of the plurality of checks based on positions of said plurality of barcodes. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of said plurality of barcodes encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein using the plurality of barcodes comprises:
 using the account number from at least one of the plurality of barcodes to determine an account into which the plurality of checks are to be deposited. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of barcodes differ from each other, and wherein the method further comprises:
 using differences among said plurality of barcodes to distinguish said plurality of checks from each other. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a second image of a second side of said sleeve, there being a plurality of second barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks; and 
 using said plurality of second barcodes to distinguish said one side of said sleeve from said second side of said sleeve. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said sleeve has one or more lines printed thereon, and wherein the method further comprises:
 using said one or more lines to determine a position or orientation of at least one check from said plurality of checks. 
 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for obtaining one or more images of a plurality of checks, the computer-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:
 receive an image of one side of a sleeve that comprises a plurality of spaces to hold a plurality of checks, wherein a plurality of barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks are printed on one side of said sleeve; 
 use the plurality of barcodes during at least one of processing said image, directing a deposit of the plurality of checks, or determining an orientation of said image; 
 and orient said image based on positions or orientations of said plurality of barcodes. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 determine locations of each of the plurality of checks based on positions of said plurality of barcodes. 
 
     
     
       15. The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of barcodes encodes an account number of a depositor, and wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 use the account number from at least one of the plurality of barcodes to determine an account into which the plurality of checks are to be deposited. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of barcodes differ from each other, and wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 use differences among said plurality of barcodes to distinguish said plurality of checks from each other. 
 
     
     
       17. The computer-readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:
 receive a second image of a second side of said sleeve, there being a plurality of second barcodes corresponding to said plurality of checks; and 
 use said plurality of second barcodes to distinguish said one side of said sleeve from said second side of said sleeve.